6. News Bytes:

Naturalization documents add security features

USA Today reports that immigration officials have created a new naturalization certificate with enhanced security features.  The certificates, used by new citizens to obtain passports and other legal documents, will have information embedded in the document and ink patterns that are harder to replicate.  Earlier this year, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services unveiled a new green card that included a personalized holographic image and a laser engraved fingerprint of the person.

In another anti-fraud initiative, The Federal News Radio reports the Department of Homeland Security has expanded the E-Verify program to include U.S. passports and passport cards for employment verification.  DHS hopes the inclusion of passport photo matching will enhance its ability to detect counterfeit documents and prevent fraud. 

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-10-25-citizenship25_ST_N.htm

http://www.federalnewsradio.com/index.php?nid=35&sid=2114736

* * * * * *

New process for relatives of green card holders

The Miami Herald reports that the U.S. diplomatic mission in Cuba has changed the way it handles applications for U.S. entry by relatives of U.S. green card holders.  The change affects only spouses and minor children of U.S. residents, who will now be processed as regular immigrant visa applicants under the Cuban Family Reunification Program (CFRP).  Beginning in 2011, F2A applicants “will be processed as immigrant visas applicants and will receive Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) status upon entry to the United States.”  Under the CFRP, which was established in 2007 to reduce delays for Cubans obtaining visas, cleared applicants are allowed to enter the United States and wait for their green cards there.

http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/10/28/1895506/new-process-for-relatives-ofgreen.html#ixzz13fRGuOkw

* * * * * * 

Jesse Jackson Sr. asks voters to protect 14^th amendment

Politico reports that prior to the November 2^nd election, Jesse Jackson Sr. was urging Chicago-are residents to vote for Democrats via a pre-recorded telephone message.  In the message, Jackson voiced concerns that Republicans would change the 14^th amendment, sending signals of the ‘backsliding of equality.’  Earlier this year, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and other Republican leaders suggested altering the amendment to discourage illegal immigration. Jackson warned that ‘a call to rally against these basic amendments is always threatening.’  The 14^th amendment grants automatic citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1010/44218.html

* * * * * *  

Temporary Protected Status for Somalia extended 18 months

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services reports that it will extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for eligible nationals of Somalia from the current expiration date of March 17, 2011 to September 17, 2012.  Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napoltiano has determined that the conditions that prompted the original TPS designations continue to exist in Somalia.

TPS does not apply to Somali nationals who first entered the United States after September 4^th, 2001.  In order to maintain TPS status, eligible Somali TPS beneficiaries must re-register during the re-registration period from November 2^nd, 2010 to January 3^rd, 2011 and submit an Application for Temporary Protected Status (Form I-821) and an Application for Employment Authorization (Form I-765).  USCIS will issue a new Employment Authorization Document to eligible TPS beneficiaries who re-register and apply.

Rhode Island governor says he’ll rescind immigration order

Turn to 10 (Rhode Island) reports that Rhode Island governor-elect Lincoln Chafee announced his plans to rescind an executive order on immigration.  In 2008, Governor Don Carcieri signed an executive order requiring state agencies and vendors to use E-Verify to confirm the legal status of prospective employees.  Chafee believes mandating E-Verify is an unnecessary step that alienates the Latino community and will move to repeal the order.

http://www2.turnto10.com/news/2010/nov/05/chafee-says-hell-rescind-immigration-order-ar-281788/

* * * * * * 

New Mexico governor unlikely to imitate Arizona immigration law

USA Today reports that New Mexico’s Republican Governor-elect, Susana Martinez, said that she would not create a law similar to Arizona’s controversial measure requiring police officers to determine a suspect’s immigration status.  Despite this comment, Martinez has been a strong opponent of a New Mexico law that allows illegally present immigrants to receive a state driver’s license.  Martinez campaign advisor Danny Diaz said she won 40% of New Mexico’s Hispanic vote and hopes her moderate stance on immigration policy will be embraced by other GOP candidates in the 2012 election. 

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-11-09-newmexico09_ST_N.htm

* * * * * *

Largest number of service members naturalized since 1955

Hispanically Speaking News reports that USCIS announced that 11,146 members of the U.S. armed forces were granted citizenship in fiscal year 2010, representing the highest number of service members naturalized since 1955.  USCIS conducts educational seminars about the naturalization process and other family-based immigration services for service members.  The Naturalization at Basic Training Initiative, for example, conducts naturalization processing on the military base so that recruits become U.S. citizens before graduating from basic training.  Since 2001, more than 65,000 service members have become U.S. citizens, including those serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

http://www.hispanicallyspeakingnews.com/immigration/details/largest-number-of-servicemembers-naturalized-since-1955/2872/

* * * * * * 

Study: 100,000 Hispanics left Arizona after SB1070

The Associated Press reports that 100,000 Hispanics left Arizona after the passage of the state’s tough immigration law.  BBVA Bancomer Research shows that 23,380 Mexicans left Arizona for Mexico between June and September.  The study cites the passage of SB 1070 as one possible cause, but also notes that Arizona’s difficult economic situation could have caused illegally present immigrants to leave.  The report estimated that 720,000 Mexican migrants were unemployed in the United States when the study was concluded in October.

http://azdailysun.com/news/state-and-regional/article_fe9734aa-bf5d-5e05-bfbf-a8fb6b2e5848.html

* * * * * *